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THE WORLD HEALTH Organisation has said more than five million people have been infected by Covid-19 across the globe.
The total cases of the novel coronavirus have been registered in under six months since the outbreak first emerged in China last December. Over 325,000 people have lost their lives.
WHO emergencies director Dr Michael Ryan said the five million cases mark would be a “tragic milestone”.
The UN agency’s chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that there were 106,662 cases reported to WHO on Tuesdsay, the most in a single day since the outbreak began.
Last night, health officials confirmed the total number of confirmed cases in Ireland has risen to 24,315, with 1,571 deaths.
The new figures come as nations have been dramatically ramping up their testing programmes. But the pandemic is still unfolding.
“We still have a long way to go in this pandemic,” Tedros told a virtual press conference as his agency warned of rising infection figures in poorer countries.
Tedros added: “We’re very concerned about the rising numbers of cases in low- and middle-income countries.”
Meanwhile, the WHO’s annual gathering of member states agreed on Tuesday to an independent probe into its coronavirus response amid mounting US criticism over its handling of the pandemic.
US president Donald Trump made public a letter he sent to Tedros, saying that if the WHO did not commit to “major substantive improvements” within 30 days, he would permanently freeze funding to the organisation and reconsider US membership.
The US is the biggest contributor to the WHO’s budget and has already suspended funding, accusing the organisation of severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the virus.
Pressed on the ultimatum, Tedros said only: “We have received the letter and we are looking into it.”
The WHO agreed that an “impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation” of “the actions of WHO and their timelines pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic” should be conducted at the “earliest possible moment”.
Asked on Wednesday when that might be, Tedros said: “When all the conditions we need are actually met”.
© AFP 2020 with reporting from Stephen McDermott.
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It’s a day for the high stool I think..
I just laid a high stool….now it’s a low stool!
Fluichy ar lá
Journal, what’s with the file photo? Can’t you people point your phone out of the window and take a picture of the actual storm effects?
The Jpurnal is based I Dublin and the worst of the storm is happening initially in the west of the country and they don’t have a camera with a two hundred mile zoom lens.
They don’t have windows because you don’t click their ads. :(
@DMcE talk about looking for something to complain about! Can you not picture a storm in your head or look out your own window?
Dam the cliffs are closed.
Drove on m50 slow down people
Today the council are out putting boiling tar into holes filled with water and throwing gravel on top.. its not going to stay .. why is this always done in the rain ???
What idiot council is doing that?
water conservation !
Have to spend the budget before the end of the year. Could do a bit of planning and fill the potholes earlier in the year
Don’t forget to turn the tap off when washing your teeth, its all about water conservation after all?.
Ugghh have to go to work in that. More of a day for the high stool
I don’t mean to poke holes but that headline picture looks alot like Toronto and their street cars in the background?
It’s alright ye all can go back out tuesday we have a meeting in Dublin to see we can we batten down storm austerity which has been raging for years
You’re some saucepan Derek… I really hope you get soaked today
And Tuesday
Cathal I wonder who pi$$ed on Derek’s cornflakes???
Cathal rather be a saucepan than a colander and have all drained out of me without trying to put a stop to it
Empty vessels make most noise
And the more noise the better
Did last sat not today though don’t like the same medicine over and over again like to try and do something about it
Some one spitting their dodie out …awhhhhhh. Did ya git out of your homeless sleeping bag on the wrong side this morning.. jockd ?? ,yellow to the front , brown to the back. Derek
Gem Larkin do not insult the name give it hack
Fcuk off Dessie!
A tarzans mate whether it rains or not Jane I’ll be there
Lol
We’re not in Kanas anymore Toto !
I was coming back home last night (well…. early morning… 3.00 am) with my Vespa…. I can tell I challenged several laws of physics driving my scooter around…. but was fun!
Went for a run then shopping, dinner and pints, you’re all wimps
Went t bring me dogs for walk ths mornin.the look on their faces.”No fkn way u gettn us out in that lad, p**ss off “
You can fly to Donegal?!
Haha see all hear all assummption making know damn all lackey
Meanwhile the government argues for an exemption from carbon emissions targets at the Paris conference. Didn’t someone tell these storms that we’re exempt? #denial
I was in Dublin yesterday & while it was raining up to 12 noon it cleared up good enough with some squally outbursts but nothing compared to what other counties got.. There was still a lot of dry intervals.. When i got back to cork last night it was bucketing again..
I drove from Dublin to athlone earlier today,to say it was an unpleasant experience is an understatement
Storm Desmond! Almost makes the bad weather sound kinda’ alright and that it’s even a bit of craic. Can’t wait to hear the future news about ‘Storm Jack Cruise’ and its ….Gaels of Laughter, Ha! .
Weather you wouldn’t even leave a ladder out in, I think?
have your say